Sash-operating mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Modelfi,

P. 's. RID-BELLE. SA$H OPERATING MECHANISM.

No. 504.626. Patented Sept. 5., 1893.

490 Wen/Z02 Zle.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2 P. S. RIDDELLE. SASH OPERATING MEGHANBM. 7

No. 504,620. Patnted Sept. 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP S. RIDDELLE, OF WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA.

SASH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 504,620, datedSeptember 5, 1893.

Application filed February 24, 1893. Serial No. 463,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP S. RIDDELLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVoodstock, in the county of Shenandoah and State ofVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements inWindow-Sash-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention has for its object to provide new and improved mechanismfor automatically raising a window sash and instantly stopping it at anydesired height by mere pressure on a finger-piece or button.

The invention also has for its object to provide novel means for lockingthe sash in any position to which it is adjusted.

The invention also has for its object to provide a novel springmechanism for raising a window sash, the speed of which is governed orcontrolled to avoid the elevation of the sash with undue velocity.

To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the features ofconstruction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafterdescribed and claimed, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1, is an elevation showing the window framebroken away and a sash provided with my improved mechanism forautomatically raising the same. Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional viewtaken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view ofthe sash and devices for holding and releasing the same. Fig. 4:, is adetail side view of the case which contains the pawl. Fig. 5, is adetail perspective view of the pawl. Fig. 6, is a detail verticalsectional view showing the bolt for locking the pawl. Fig. 7, is a frontelevation of the same showing the cam or device for locking the bolt;and Fig. 8, is a detail perspective view of the key for operating thecam or device which locks the bolt.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my inventionI will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawingswherein the numeral 1, indicates a window frame and 3 a sash, whichparts may be of any construction suitable for the conditions required.

The invention is designed for the sashes of buildings, cars andvehicles, and obviously the window frame and sash will vary according tothe purpose for which they are designed.

A spring mechanism is arranged in the top portion of the window frameand as here illustrated, it comprises a frame 4. in which is journaled adrum 5, containing a convoluted spring 6 and having its shaft providedwith a gear wheel 7 which is geared with a governor 8, which governs orcontrols the drum in such manner as to prevent the sash being raisedwith undue velocity.

The drum 5 is provided with a cable or cord 6, connected at oneextremity with the drum 5, and at its opposite extremity to the top railof the window sash 3, as at 9, all in such manner that when the sash isreleased from restraint the resiliency of the spring will rotate thedrum to wind the cable and elevate the sash. I have illustrated thespring as applied to the lower sash for the purpose of raising thelatter, but obviously the spring can be applied to the upper sash sothat when the latter is pulled downward and released it will beautomatically elevated. In either event the sash is automaticallyelevated or raised by the spring and therefore the power of the springmust be sufficient to overcome the resistance offered by the weight ofthe sash.

A rack 10 is secured to one of the side rails of the sash and a pawl 12is adapted to directly engage the teeth of the rack for the purpose ofholding the sash under restraint, or against the power of the spring, sothat the sash will be held stationary until the pawl is disengaged fromthe rack, whereupon the spring will exert its power on the sash for thepurpose of raising the same. The pawl is arranged to slide horizontallyin a casing 13, Figs. 3 and 4, which is located in a suitable recess inthe window frame and is provided with a longitudinal slot 14, for thepas- 5 sage of a laterally projecting pin 15 on the pawl. A bell cranklever 15 is pivoted to the pawl-case 13, and one arm of this lever isarranged to bear against the pin 15, while the other arm is connected tothe upper end of a vertical rod 16, the lower end of which rod ispivoted to a horizontally disposed lever 17, fulcrumed between itsextremities to a suitable support as at 18. The lever 17 is provided atthe extremity opposite that which is pivoted to the rod 16, with afinger-piece or push button 19, acted upon by a spring 20, of anysuitable construction, which operates to elevate the finger-piece orpush button and therebyswing the lever 17 in the direction required torock the bell crank lever 15 and cause the latter to release the pawl 12for its engagement with the rack. The pawl 12 is pressed into engagementwith the rack on the sash through the medium of a suitable spring 21.

The spring 20 is represented as a spiral spring, and the spring 21 as aleaf or plate spring, but obviously these springs may be otherwiseconstructed and arranged to accomplish the results specified.

The pawl-casing 13 is provided in its upper portion with a recess 22,for the passage of the nose 23, of a bolt 24, Fig. 6, and the pawl 12 isconstructed intermediate its extremities with a locking notch 25, insuch manner that when the bolt 24 is moved in the proper direction thenose 23 of the bolt will enter the notch 25 and thus hold the pawl inengagement with the rack for the purpose of looking the sash at anydesired height. The bolt 24, as here illustrated, is adapted to slideverticallyin a recessed part of the window frame, and it is providedwith a laterally projecting finger-piece 26 which extends through a slot27 in a guide plate 28, secured to the window frame, Fig.6, so that bymanipulating the finger-piece 26 the bolt can be moved into and out ofengagement with the pawl.

For the purpose of locking the bolt 24 in engagement with the pawl andthus prevent any unauthorized person from moving the window sash, Iprovide the plate 28 with a rotary cam 29, adapted to be operated by akey 30, Fig. 8, the construction being such that when the bolt 24 isadjusted to engage its nose 23 with the locking notch 25 of the pawl 12,the cam 29 can be turned by the key 30 into such position as to bearagainst the finger-piece 26 and prevent the bolt from bein g raised ordisengaged from the pawl. This is a useful feature of construction formany purposes, especially in dwellings where it is desirable to preventchildren from operating the sash, or in cars where the conductor orother attendant may consider it advisable to lock the sash and thusprevent it being operated by a passenger.

The cam described and shown provides a very simple device for lockingthe bolt in engagement with the pawl, but other locking devices operatedby a key from the exterior of the window frame can be employed.

The push button 19, as here represented, is arranged in a suitablerecess in the window sill, at or near the center thereof, for thepurpose of placing it in the most convenient position for operating thepawl. I do not, however, confine myself to any particular location ofthe finger-piece or push button 19, for obviously it can be arrangedotherwise than as represented for the purpose of actuating thepawl-operating devices.

The window sash is preferably provided with anti-friction rollersadapted to travel on guide rails 31, Fig. l,as described and shown in myapplication for Letters Patent filed of even date herewith, Serial No.463,597. The anti-friction rollers and guide rails are desirable in thatthey provide for perfect freedom of movement of the sash and efiectuallyavoid rattling or binding of the sash in the window frame.

In practice the parts normally stand in the position represented in Fig.3, where the pawl is in engagement with the rack on the sash. If thefinger-piece or push-button 19 be depressed, the lever 17 and rod 16 areoperated to rock the bell crank lever 15 and thereby retract the pawlfrom engagement with the rack, whereupon the spring 6 will exert itspower against the resistance ofiered by the weight of the sash and thelatter will be antomatically raised. When the sash has reached thedesired point of elevation, the finger-piece or push button 19 isreleased from pressure and instantly the pawl springs into engagementwith the rack and stops the sash. The speed of the spring-impelled drum5 is controlled by the governor 8, which latter is in the form of a flygeared to the drum, for the purpose of governing or controlling therevolution of the drum and preventing the sash rising with such unduevelocity, incident to the power of the spring if uncontrolled, as wouldcause concussions and injury to the sash and window glass.

In the construction exhibited by the drawings, the teeth of the rack 10,are beveled or formed like ratchet teeth, whereby it is possible tolower the sash without manipulating the finger-piece or push button 19,provided the pawl is not locked by the sliding bolt. But I do not wishto be understood as confining myself to any particular construction ofrack, for obviously the teeth thereof may be otherwise suitably formedto meet the conditions required.

My invention provides novel, simple, efficient and economical devices,whereby a window sash can be automatically raised,stopped and held atany desired height, and by the provision by a rack and pawl directlyengaging each other, I entirely avoid the complications and expenseincident to that construction where a rotary shaft is journaled in thewindow sash and carries a gear wheel meshing with a rack on the windowframe, a spiral spring serving to rotate the shaft and a locking pawlcontrolled by a finger-piece being arranged to engage the gear wheel. Insuch prior construction the power of the spring must be very great owingto the leverage required to rotate the gear wheel on the rack forraising the sash. The prior devices are also objectionable in that it isessential to provide the bottom rails of the sash with very largerecesses to receive the spring roller and gear wheel, which largerecesses weaken the sash and are difficult to construct. V

It will be obvious that the mechanism described and shown is useful forpreventing raising of the sash from the exterior of the building orvehicle, and further that the sash can be locked when closed, or it canbe raised a few inches for ventilating purposes and be locked inposition so that it cannot be farther raised from the outside. This is asafeguard against burglars and particularly usef ul on the lower floorsof the hotels and houses of summer resorts and other places.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combinationwith a window frame, and a sash, of a spring-impelled hollow drummounted on the top portion of the window frame and containing within itthe impelling spring, a cable winding on the hollow drum and connectedwith the sash to automatically raise the latter whenever released, meansfor stopping the ascent'of the sash at any desired point and holding itstationary against the power of the spring which acts on the drum, and agovernor geared to the drum for preventing the sash rising with unduevelocity, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a window frame, and a sash, of a spring-impelledhollow drum mounted on the top portion of the window frame andcontaining within it the impelling spring, a cable winding on the hollowdrum and connected with the sash to automatically raise the latterwhenever released, pawl and rack mechanism for stopping the ascent ofthe sash at any desired point and holding it stationary against thepower of the spring which acts on the drum, and a finger piece fordisengaging the pawl from the rack, and a governor arranged in operativeconnection with the drum and serving to prevent the sash rising withundue velocity, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a spring connecting a sash with the top portion ofa window frame and operating to raise the sash when released fromrestraint, with a rack and pawl directly engaging each other and one ofwhich is carried by the window frame and the other by the sash, afinger-piece or push button for disengaging the pawl from the rack,connections between the pawl and the finger piece or push button, amovable bolt operating from the exterior of the window frame to hold thepawl in engagement with the rack and thereby retain the sash at anydesired height, and a key-actuated locking device for locking themovable bolt in engagement with the pawl to prevent the sash beingraised or lowered until the key-actuated locking device is operated byan authorized person, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a spring arranged to raise a window sash when thelatter is released from restraint, with a rack and pawl directlyengaging each other and one of which isv carried by the window frame andthe other by the sash, a finger-piece or push button for disengaging thepawl from the rack to permit the spring to raise the sash, connectionsbetween the pawl and the finger piece or push button, a movable boltoperated from the exterior of the window frame to hold the pawl inengagement with the rack and thereby retain the sash at any desiredheight, and a rotary, key-actuated cam for locking the bolt inengagement with the pawl to prevent the sash being raised or lowereduntil said cam is operated by the proper key, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a window frame, and a sash, of a spring-impelleddrum mounted on the top portion of the window frame, and provided with acable winding thereupon, and connected with the sash to automaticallyraise the latter whenever released, rack and pawl mechanism for stoppingthe ascent of the sash at any desired point and holding it stationaryagainst the power of the spring, a movable finger piece arranged on thewindow sill, and connections between the finger piece and the pawl fordisengaging the latter from the rack, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a window frame, and a sash, of a springmechanism mounted on the upper portion of the window frame and connectedwith the sash to automatically pull the latter upward whenever released,a rack on the sash, a sliding pawl on the window frame, a lever engagingand operating the pawl, a lever pivoted intermediate its extremities tothe window sill, and having a rod connection with the pawl-operatinglever, and a spring finger piece arranged in the window sill forvibrating the lever which is pivoted to the latter, substantially asdescribed,

7. The combination, with a window sash having a rack, of aspring-impelled drum located on the window frame above the sash andhaving its spring connected with the latter for automatically raisingthe sash when released from restraint, a pawl casing arranged in thewindow frame, a pawl mounted in the pawl-casing and engaging the rack tohold the sash against the power of the spring, a spring which throws thepawl into engagement with the rack, a finger-piece or push button havinglever and rod connec- IIO tions for operating the pawl and moving it Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set out of engagement with the rack,anda movmy hand and affixed my seal in presence of 10 able bolt operatedfrom the exterior of the two subscribing witnesses.

window frame for lockin the pawl in en- 5 gagement with the rack toprevent the sash RIDDELLE' [L being raised or lowered until the bolt isdis- Witnesses: engaged from :the pawl, substantially as de- WM. S.KLINE,

scribed. ALBERT H. NORRIS.

